Source: Team_Talk
Modric hits out at Cattermole challenge
Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric has accused Sunderland's Lee Cattermole of putting his career in jeopardy with his challenge last night.[LNB] Modric claims Cattermole's studs-first tackle in the 1-1 Premier League draw at White Hart Lane could easily have broken his leg.[LNB]Cattermole was shown a yellow card for the 69th-minute incident, which sparked a brief melee between opposing players.[LNB]Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was adamant Cattermole should have been sent off for the third time this season, but opposite number Steve Bruce was equally convinced the challenge was fair.[LNB]Modric said: "Players who tackle like that need to think before making a tackle because they can ruin careers of friends and professionals. They just need to think about it.[LNB]"He should have been sent off. I can't show you now but there is a big swelling on my knee and he should have got a red card but the referee decided differently.[LNB]"When you see tackles like that, it is a little upsetting, and if they are not punished properly then even more so.[LNB]"For now, it is a little bit sore but I hope it will settle down.[LNB]"I jumped and if I stayed with my legs on the floor it would have been even worse, but I got out of the way at the last second.[LNB]"Maybe if I stayed on the floor I would have broken my leg but I jumped and that has probably saved me.[LNB]"Thank God everything finished well."[LNB]Referee Howard Webb was also at the centre of the game's other big controversy, electing to book David Bentley for diving in the box following a challenge from Boudewijn Zenden.[LNB]A fourth league game without a win means Tottenham face a real battle to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season, leaving them four points behind the top four having played a game more.[LNB]Modric said: "If you look at the result, it is not good for us.[LNB]"We deserved to win. We should have had a penalty and maybe a red card (for them) and then it would have been a different game.[LNB]"But we need to focus on the next game and try to win."
